09/23/2025
Your body might be feeling the collective stress even when you’re “not watching the news.” (Read more👇)
I’m Destiny, a therapist living with chronic illness, and I do a lot of work to help people see and manage their stress loads.
I see this pattern constantly - people trying to protect their mental health by completely shutting off from current events, but still feeling unexplained fatigue, irritability, and that underlying sense of unease.
We’re wired for social connection and awareness. Complete news avoidance might feel safer short-term, but it can actually increase anxiety because your nervous system knows something’s happening - you’re just not getting the information it needs to process.
Sometimes the healthiest choice isn’t complete avoidance, rather it’s intentional, boundaried engagement with what’s happening in our world.
Your nervous system is trying to stay informed to keep you safe. That makes perfect sense given how we’re designed as social beings.
Try this: Choose 2-3 trusted news sources. Check in once or twice daily or weekly, not hourly.
Turn off push notifications- immediately.
The moment you hear the same story for the third time, step away - that’s when the news cycle becomes more harmful than helpful.
Being specific about what you’re feeling (election anxiety, climate grief, social justice fatigue) helps you ask for the exact support you need, rather than just feeling generally “off.”
Your body isn’t wrong, it’s normal, for responding to collective stress.
What helps you stay informed without overwhelming your nervous system? You’re not alone in figuring this out. 👇
Not medical advice - just one chronically ill counselor sharing what I’ve learned about the mind-body connection
